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COUNCIL OF
THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 23 March 2012
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PRESSE 122

EU Operations Centre to support CSDP missions in the Horn

of Africa
The Council today activated the EU Operations Centre in support of the Common Security
and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions in the Horn of Africa. This is the first activation of
the EU Operations Centre.
The Operations Centre will coordinate and increase synergies between the three CSDP
actions in the Horn of Africa. The EU is currently conducting two military operations
EUNAVFOR Atalanta, which fights piracy off the Somali coast, and EUTM Somalia,
which contributes to the training of Somali security forces. It has also started operational
planning for a civilian mission to strengthen maritime capacities in the region (RMCB).
The Operations Centre will provide direct support to the operations commander for the
planning and conduct of the RMCB mission and facilitate coordination between EUTM
and Operation Atalanta and their interaction with Brussels-based structures. If requested, it
will also support strategic planning for CSDP missions and operations in the Horn of
Africa.
The Operations Centre will not have command responsibility, but will fully respect the
existing chains of command. It will include some EU military staff, the Brussels-based
support cell for the EU training mission in Somalia, the liaison team of Operation Atalanta
in Brussels as well as staff seconded by member states.
The head of the EU Operations Centre will be Captain Ad van der Linde (Netherlands).
The Operations Centre, which was created in 2003, will be active for an initial duration of
two years. Its activities and financing will be regularly reviewed.

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More information:
Council conclusions on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Horn of Africa
EU training mission Somalia
EUNAVFOR Atalanta
Regional maritime capacity building

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